By David Olalekan.
Popular Nigerian preacher and founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, Prophet T.B Joshua, is facing turbulent times, as his planned visit to Israeli city of Nazareth ahead of his church’s event themed “Nazareth Meeting with TB Joshua,” schedule to hold tomorrow has been rejected by residents of the city.
According to Haaretz, an Israeli news channel, the prophet’s visit has generated widespread criticism among residents, stakeholders and even churches in the city.
The Israeli news agency reports that some church leaders in the city of Nazareth were quoted as saying the planned event by the Synagogue Church was an “affront in the principles of Christianity”, enjoining residents to shun it.
“We beg you to not play in the hands of those organising this type of festival which is an affront to the principles of Christianity, and our national identity.
“We beg you not to play in the hands of those organizing this type of festival which is an affront to the principles of Christianity, and our national identity, and deals a blow to the social fabric of a city like Nazareth,” they said.
The Hadash and Youth for Change parties in Nazareth, questioned the Nigerian clergy’s source of wealth.
“We have asked to take an in-depth look at this issue, at why a city like Nazareth would receive such a person who is denied entry to many countries on grounds of criminal suspicions and given his links to the extreme right in Israel.
“What’s more, the man is known to have grown wealthy in a way that has raised many questions and therefore we view such a visit as an illegitimate step which contaminates the city and its historic heritage.
“And we absolutely reject the mayor’s claims that such an event would bring $1 million to the city and would see such a sum were it to actually materialise as an illegitimate contribution that would contaminate the city,” they emphasized.